Who is Brigette Lundy-Paine? Meet the Star Making Waves in ‘Atypical’ and ‘The Glass Castle’

While critics and viewers remain divided over whether Netflix’s new series Atypical should be praised for dramatizing the story of Sam (Keir Gilchrist), an Autistic teenager, or criticized for doing so problematically, there’s one thing they can agree on: Brigette Lundy-Paine, who plays Sam’s younger sister Casey, is freaking awesome.

While Atypical focuses on Sam’s journey into adulthood, it also follows his family as they attempt to let him go off on his own, which is no easy task, whether you have an Autistic or a neurotypical child. Lundy-Paine’s Casey is much better at respecting Sam’s independence than either of her parents (played by Jennifer Jason Leigh and Michael Rapaport), but she’s also always willing to stand up for him if he needs it. The family dynamic proves itself to be the show’s heart, primarily because Lundy-Paine and Gilchrist create one of the most authentic sibling relationships on television.

What does she have coming up?

Whether or not you’ve seen Atypical, Brigette Lundy-Paine is an actress you need to pay attention to. Her most recent film, The Glass Castle, premiered this past weekend after a highly-anticipated release. Lundy-Paine plays Maureen Walls, the daughter of drifters Rex and Rose Mary Walls (played by Woody Harrelson and Naomi Watts), and she’s featured alongside Oscar-winner Brie Larson, who plays older sister Jeannette. Talk about a way to get your feet wet in the industry.

Lundy-Paine will also appear in the upcoming film The Wilde Wedding about a retired film star (Glenn Close) whose fourth wedding is derailed by the surprise arrival of her first husband (John Malkovich) and their families. The film premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in May, which is a great venue to showcase an up-and-coming actress’ talent.

Where have I seen her?

Like most young actresses —Brigette Lundy-Paine’s age is 22— her career has been a little bit all over the place. She starred in the 2016 Nike web series–yes, Nike produces web series because of course they do–Margot vs. Lily about a New Year’s Eve bet between sisters. She also appears in Woody Allen’s Irrational Man as a student at the university where the film is set. It’s a small role, but she does appear in the trailer alongside Emma Stone and Joaquin Phoenix, so how many people can say that?

Check out Brigette on Instagram for fun behind-the-scenes photos and lots of shenanigans.